Synthesis of cephalosporin-4-aldehydes

The first reported synthesis of cephalosporin-4-aldehyde derivatives has been achieved via Moffatt oxidation of the corresponding 4-hydroxymethylcephalosporins. The aldehyde 1 was converted into a number of polar derivatives, in particular the acrylic acid derivative 13 which is the 4-vinylogue of sodium cephalothin. None of the new cephalosporin derivatives possessed useful antibacterial activity.